Referral System Technical Advisor at NYC Medics

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

NYCMedics is a global disaster relief and health organization, specializing in the deployment of highly trained and motivated clinical and global health staff and volunteers in the wake of natural disasters and complex emergencies. Founded in 2006 in response to the devastating Southeast Asia Earthquake, NYCMedics has repeatedly and consistently been among the first to respond to large-scale disasters requiring international assistance.

Since our start in 2006, NYCMedics has grown from our founding team of 13 volunteers to the expansive international organization and infrastructure that exists today with a network of over 350 volunteer medical professionals, a small but dedicated staff and Board of Directors. We have expanded our programs to include prehospital systems development and have worked in Kenya, El Salvador and Iraq to improve infrastructure and access to local Emergency Medical Systems (EMS) to increase the availability and quality of essential services.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

As the Referral System Technical Advisor, you will be an intricate part of the project team in Aden, Yemen tasked with developing and scaling up capacity of the entire prehospital referral process from patient presentation through to patient delivery at referral hospitals. This will include implementation and management of a 24/7 call center, both real-time coordination and broader strategic coordination and management of all ambulance transfers and prehospital care services in NYCMedics area of operation. You will also oversee professional development and management of national call center staff, assist with ambulance staff training and the management of an ambulance incentives program. The overall objective of this position is to develop and implement an integrated referral system that harmonizes the ambulance transfer process in effort to improve local coordination and operational capacity of prehospital care services to improve medical outcomes.

Referral System Technical Advisor reports to the NYCMedics Country Director and will be an intricate part of the project team. You will work closely with MOH, WHO, Health Cluster, Trauma Working Group and other relevant clusters and stakeholders as necessary. This position is contingent on funding, with an anticipated start date at the end of April/beginning of May. Specific responsibilities for the role may include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Develop, implement and oversee the patient transfer and referral system from patient presentation at forward located facilities through to patient delivery at secondary and tertiary facilities, and interfacility transfers between secondary care and tertiary care facilities.
• Identify and monitor patient referral pathways
• Implement and manage a 24/7 referral call center operations
• Real-time coordination and broader strategic coordination and management of all ambulance and prehospital care services including troubleshooting delays or roadblocks in the patient referral pathway
• Manage and oversee Prehospital Care Working Group
• Work closely with the Prehospital Care Technical Advisor to supervise patient transports; maintain communication with ambulance personnel as necessary
• Develop and oversee prehospital care clinical standards and referral system SOPs
• Human resource development including training and management of call center and prehospital/ambulance staff.
• Evaluate policies, procedures and performance improvement activities
• Frequent and routine site visits to clinical facilities within the referral pathway
• Develop and maintain a real-time service and capacity matrix of trauma, medical care and COVID specific providers and facilities
• Assist with the implementation of an ambulance incentive program
• Collect and manage data from pre-hospital care sites and ambulance transfers
• Data extraction and analysis from medical documentation chart review, and reporting of data analysis to the assigned WHO focal point
• Establish a presence of leadership and develop effective working relationships
• Work collaboratively with the WHO, MOH, and the various stakeholders operating emergency medical, trauma and COVID care facilities and other stakeholders participating in the patient referral pathway
• Actively seek to improve services and overall project output; offering new and different options to solve problems or meet project needs and implementing corrective actions as necessary
• Daily/weekly operational updates and reporting

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
NYCMedics staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the NYCMedics employee handbook and the Humanitarian Principles.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• M.D. degree or equivalent with a master’s degree in Global Health or equivalent professional global health experience preferred; EMS Fellowship or Emergency Medicine Global Health Fellowship with international experience preferred.
• Board certification in Emergency Medicine or General Surgery with qualifications in Trauma Surgery.
• Minimum 5 years clinical experience in emergency medical care and prehospital care services
• Minimum 5 years experience in humanitarian and/or disaster response; at least 2-3 years of working experience in volatile, insecure environments preferably in the MENA region
• Experience in project coordination, including managing and training national personnel in health systems development
• Ability to train, mobilize, and manage international and national staff
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage priorities effectively
• Flexibility, resiliency and ability to multitask under pressure
• Ability to proactively build relationships with various stakeholders
• Capable of working well in an unstable and frequently changing security environment
• A keen understanding of political complexities in conflict environments; Yemeni context an asset
• Fluency in written and spoken English; Arabic language skills and cultural familiarity with Muslim countries an asset

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

This position will be based in Aden, Yemen, with at least 50% travel to partner and stakeholder facilities in insecure or austere environments, within and outside of Aden to perform site visits and facility assessments. Strict adherence to NYCMedics security policies and procedures will be required as will respect for local law and cultural norms and traditions. Security conditions in the country are variable, with a range of violence and insecurity, requiring close monitoring and vigilance. Candidates must be able to work in a volatile, constantly changing environment with energy, transportation and communication challenges.